Sydney FC signs Lavicka for 2011/12 season

Hyundai A-League Championship winning coach Vitezlsav Lavicka will lead the Sky Blues through their 2011/12 season, club Vice-Chairman Scott Barlow announced today.

Hyundai A-League Championship winning coach Vitezlsav Lavicka will lead the Sky Blues through their 2011/12 season, club Vice-Chairman Scott Barlow announced today.

It is a massive boost for the Sky Blues who are just days out from their opening clash of the 2011 AFC Champions League against the Suwon Samsung Bluewings at the Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday 2 March (8pm kick-off).

Lavicka, who snared the A-League Premiership and Championship in his debut A-League season in 2009/10, will be in charge of Sydney FC for the third straight season.

“We are extremely happy to have secured Vitezslav for the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season,” Barlow said. “We have the utmost respect for him as a coach and as an individual.”

“This is a very positive decision for the club and allows us to proceed with certainty into the future.

“Although we-ve had a tough season we are determined to further strengthen our squad and build on the success we had in Vitezslav-s first season.

“We have seen in 2011 the results and direction of the team when we have the majority of our players fit and available. We are clearly focused on building on that momentum.”

The experienced Lavicka, who is Sydney FC-s longest serving coach, said he was extremely pleased to be leading the club into the future.

“We had a very successful season as a team in my first year at Sydney FC. The second season was very tough, in particular the start, but we continued to work hard and we-ve had a good stretch in 2011,” Lavicka said.

“In the offseason we will work together to bring in some more quality players and focus on playing entertaining football for our fans and for our city.

“Like I have said many times, I love Sydney FC, I enjoy my job here and my family loves Sydney so I am very happy.

“This is very good news but myself and the team is now focused on our game against Suwon on Wednesday night. It is an important tournament for the whole club and right now our main goal is on perfuming well in the Champions League.”